Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

I love the old Bandits--they really are amazing amps. I have seen so many touring bands crank them, sound fabulous--and then literally THROW them on the bus!

I had a old 120-watt Rock Master, and I've always said that it was one of the best Fender amps I ever owned. The later VTM 120 version of this amp is still a killer basic amp.

The Duel 212 didn't last long in the line-up, but the one I played had a great clean tone--though the dirty channel was very noisy. This amp became the Ranger, and I found it to have a similar problem. I haven't bothered trying the new JSX amps, as I'm not in the market for an amp at the moment.

Still, I think my all-time favorite Peavey amp was a Heritage VTX 212 that a friend of mine owned. That was a very sweet and versatile amp, but I've never heard another one that sounded as good as his did. He traded his off for a Marshall, and regreted it from Day One.

They build good stuff.

Bill

 

[fingerace]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

I am not very good at "amp history" so can you guys tell me when Peavey stoped making the classic 50 head? Also why can't they make it again? I think it will be very popular!

 

[bulb]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

You, sir, have way too much sense to be in a band! Anyone remember an article by Stevie Rays tech saying he set the amps numbers to the same place no matter what the venue sounded like?!?!? There is something to be said for knowing how to play your amp - whatever it is! Kinda like flying a plane and not being able to land it - you gotta do both play guitar and work an amp!!!

Haha thanks man! I try!
But seriously, i feel like maybe too many people expect holy grail tone out of an amp without spending time with it and getting to know its range of useable sounds or even what exactly makes up a useable sound for a given situation or mix. Sometimes you will find that a guy with a not so great setup has a sound that kicks a guy with an awesome setup just because he spent the time needed to extract the best parts of the sound of the rig.

 

[CGord]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

OK, so how about the Peavey combos? Or are you guys including them here? I'm assuming this has been all about head & cab setups.

Me, I have an early 90's Bandit 112 combo. I wanted a 5150 combo, my wife went to buy me one for Xmas, saw the price, & asked the salesman "What else have you got?" I can't say I really like it.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

I own the Bandit 112S. I like it when used with LesStrat. A great combination.

I have found that minor eq changes make major tone changes. Is it a great tube amp? Of course not. It doesn't have tubes.:smack:

I played the original 5150 when it hit the market. I liked the distortion in it, but I could not find a clean setting. I guess it wasn't intended to be used for that.

My bro-in-law had a XXX that he really liked. But he likes his vintage Traynor better.

Peavey makes durable, road-worthy, reasonably-priced gear for working musicians. I believe that they succeed.

 

[Pecan]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

^Im going to have to try a DC-3 now boogie bill

 

[inter]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Wow, Ed's tone is asstacular.

Compare to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r0giCsDios&search=unchained "van halen"

Yeah, the 5150's just don't blend in like his ol' open Marshall's. A loud 5150 can leave you out in the rain if your just a little off the groove, (I know Steve Morse used to cut the tone knob to fall back alittle in mix in DP).

Having said that, Ed was on top of the rythym and really playing wet 5150's in the pocket during the Balance tour's. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wIuJTEVZ94

 

[Nate]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

I own a JSX and I have to say it is the best in the Peavey line hands down. I do love the 5150 and the 6505 ALOT but no cleans man. I heard from a friend that the XXX blows the JSX away for metal and I must say it just blows. I tried one out yesterday and the crunch channel is good but when I switched to ultra it was as if someone put a turd in the signal. I run a parametric in the loop of the JSX and get phenomenal heavy tones so if you are thinking of a Peavey, try a JSX. Put an EQ in the loop and listen to the pure tonal wizadry first hand!:bowdown:

I do something somewhat similar with my JSX: BBE Sonic Maximizer 362i. I turn the lo contour up a bit, roll the high contour off a bit and it turns into a recto killer!! :headbang:

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

I bought my first all-valve amp less than two months ago.

The three on my short list was the:
Valve King
Classic 30
Fender Blues Jr.

Vlave King, turned out, not to be for me.
I disliked the gain.

The Classic 30 had every thing i wanted, hell, i even liked the gain on it.
Problem was, there is a 3 month (min.) waiting list for them over here, AND they could not get hold of the old shape ones any more.
Cannot say that i like this new one eyed logo in the middle look.
They claim that the tone is the same, only a diff cab . . .

So i took the Blues Jr.
Great lil amp, if you think it is "only" a 15watter.

My next amp, will probably be a Classic 50, 4x10.

 

[Danglin' Fury]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

I do something somewhat similar with my JSX: BBE Sonic Maximizer 362i. I turn the lo contour up a bit, roll the high contour off a bit and it turns into a recto killer!! :headbang:

BROTHER, I'VE FOUND YOU!!! Finally somebody else who believes in the heavy potential of the JSX!!!!! :bowdown: :banana: :smokin:

 

[Animal]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Fantastic thread idea.

I've a got a Transtube Rage 158 that my friend has been using for a long time now. 15 watts, 8" Blue Marvel speaker, two channels with shared EQ.

Had posession of it again recently for a day or two. Messed around with it and the sheer simplicity of the Rage 158 almost has me longing for it back! I was going from a super spanky clean to a super saturated crunch at the push of the channel switch. Being highly conservative with the treble knob helps to counteract it's buzzy high-end. Easy to get a decent sound at low volume. Makes me look in digust at my more expensive amps at having to push them so loud to get the mojo happening.

Farts out easy when you crank the master. Afterall it's only a practice amp. I remember trying to jam in a band a few years back with this amp and it was solid-state power amp distortion, speaker breakup, and cabinet resonance galore. Still could hardly hear myself.

The Rage 158 is apparently the highest selling guitar amp in the world. Tough as nails. I've heard reports about people pushing their Rage 158 down the stairs, dropping it off their roof and dragging it along the road tied to the back off their car and STILL be fully functional.

Plenty of people hate this amp. Rightfully so if you take it from a cork-sniffing perspective. It IS possible to get cool sounds out of it. For an all anologue absolute dirt cheap practice box that goes from clean to scream The Rage 158 is hard to beat.

 

[FamousForSustain]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Plenty of people hate this amp. Rightfully so if you take it from a cork-sniffing perspective.

Cork sniffing! I'm totally stealing that!

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

You guys know i love my 30.

 

[Kac]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

I've owned the XXL head and valveking 212, along with a few other starter amps not worth mentioning.

i'd reccomend people just stay away from these amps...

Rock On ~ Kac

 

[Mephis]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

I've owned the XXL head and valveking 212, along with a few other starter amps not worth mentioning.

i'd reccomend people just stay away from these amps...

Rock On ~ Kac

Ever played a 5150 or any of the classic series? Hell, even a penta?

You can't tell people to stay away from them unless you actually experence stuff they make worth mentioning.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

This thread lasted longer than I thought. I guess the general consensus is that the best Peavey amps are the 5150, 6505, JSX, and the entire Classic series.
And I agree....Peavey made a big mistake by discontinuing some of the Classic amps....all of them are pretty cool amps, especially for the money.

 

[Animal]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

Cork sniffing! I'm totally stealing that!

Be my guest. I already stole it from someone else here hehehe.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Peavey Amp Thread. Rate the Amps.

I have a Transfex Pro 212s (no longer in production) and a Trilpe X 212. Both are otustanding.
I really like the JSX, it strikes me as a more refined and flexible Triple X, but I didn't need both.
The Tranfex still stands up to any amp pretty well in the tone department (even though it is solid state), it still surprises me when I plug into it and listen. That was a modelling amp before it was called modelling, but it didn't have presets named after other amps. I have had a number of Peavey amps over the years, they have all been very good (especially for the price). Peaveys do have their own sound, its not Marshall, Fender, or Mesa. They offer a great product at a good price. My Triple X will still do some things better than my Recto.

If I had to say what Peaveys I liked best so far it would be the Triple X and JSX.
They fit me better than the 5150/6505 (they are great, but not my kind of voicing), the Penta is old school Marshall (I tried one out for a while), which is just not my cup of tea.